Boys play house, men build homes
Boys shack up, men get married.
Boys make babies, men raise children
A boy won't raise his own children, a man will raise someone
else's.
Boys invent excuses for failure, men produce strategies for
success.
Boys look for somebody to take care of them, men look for
someone to take care of.
Boys seek popularity, men demand respect and know how to
give it.

A Real Man

This appears on our home page superimposed over Leonardo da
Vinci's David. It's what we stand for.

If the stereotype of the macho man is the whiskey-drinking,
womanizing Don Draper, then the popular perception of
feminist is an angry, militant,
man-haterdecrying the patriarchy while she burns her
bra. Its a cliché that, for decades now, has
pitted the Marlboro Man against Rosie the Riveter, labeling
women who rally behind men as antifeminist, and men who
support women as weak, or worse. But even Gloria Steinem
knewback before women were even allowed to write at
NEWSWEEKthat it was going to take both sides of the
gender coin to achieve true parity. Testifying before
Congress on behalf of the Equal Rights Amendment in 1970,
Steinem proclaimed that one crucial aspect of womens
empowerment was a return of fathers to their
children. Womens liberation, Steinem
declared, is mens liberation too.

Forty years later, women are further along than we were
in Steinems daywere tipping the scale at
51 percent of workers; we make up the majority of college
graduates, M.A.s (and now even Ph.D.s), and we are the
primary or co-breadwinners in most American households. But
we still have trouble penetrating the highest echelons of
the corporate world, and no matter how many hours we spend
trying to close that gap, we remain burdened by domestic
life. In 2010, there are still precious few stay-at-home
dads; housework and child care are primarily still
womens work. And while we may have
superpowered washing machines and delivery from Fresh
Direct, we still do double the chores of the men we choose
to live with.

All of this is why, even in 2010, we must take the advice
of a feminist of yore: women still need men to prosper.
Were not talking about Mr. Cleaver bringing home the
baconwe need men so that we can excel at work, to
level the playing field at home. We need them as dads,
partners, and cheerleadersfrom the classroom to the
boardroom. So lets retire the tired old battle
of the sexes war cryequality should never have
been a zero-sum equation.

There are practical reasons why we should rally behind
each others causes. If men are concerned about
American prosperity, theres a solution: women!
Countless studies prove theres a correlation between
the number of women on corporate boards and achieving a
better bottom line; McKinsey estimates that the United
States could increase GDP by 9 percent if we achieved true
equity at work. (At a time when economists worry were
losing our economic edge, who wouldnt be swayed by
these arguments?)

The same goes for parental leave. Its no
coincidence that Iceland has the most generous
paternity-leave program in the modern worldthree
months!and also, the smallest wage gap. These things
go hand in hand. And no, it wasnt a raging man-hating
feminist who pushed the legislation throughit was a
male prime minister, who recognized that Icelanders of both
genders would benefit, and not just in the short term. The
reasoning? As more men take time off to care for their
children, the burden of parenthood no longer falls on women
alone. Ultimately, employers will stop looking at young,
fertile women and thinking, why bother investing? Well
all be equally worthy of investment.

In todays economy, the industries that have long
been female-dominatedteaching, nursing, and so
onare the ones that, in the coming years, will grow
the most. Encouraging men to man up, as our
colleagues put itand enter these fields should be
something we all push for. Because just as corporate boards
benefit from diversity of thought, so does every workplace.
Recent research from the London Business School suggests
that productivity levels go up when men and women work in
tandemin part because gender parity counters the idea
of groupthink, and reduces the sprouting of likeminded
groups that defend ideas that may be ill conceived.

Welcoming men to traditionally underpaid professions
could also serve to boost average salaries in those fields,
making them more competitive and better able to attract
top-tier talent. It could also be a crucial step in closing
the wage gap, which, of course, wont help just women.
As more women become the main breadwinnerswere
in a mancession, remember?equal pay means
more for everyone.

So lets embrace the new macho, throw our weight
behind men who want to make a change, and get back to the
forgotten principles of the original womens movement,
which put mens progress hand in hand with
womens. The only way that we can resolve these
issues is for both men and women to join together,
says historian Barbara Berg. You cant liberate
only one half.

45 honest, heartbreaking, and
heartwarming responses to 'Be a man'They start at age 5 and go all the way up to 50. And
every one has a different idea of what "Be a man" means.

What comes to mind when you hear the phrase "Be a
man"?

When I hear it, the feminist in me can't think of it as
anything other than a really limiting way to think about
gender  and, because it's usually used to shoot down
someone acting in a way that's perceived as "feminine," it
strikes me as kind of insulting. But as this video from Cut
Video illustrates, not everyone sees it that way.

Here are 45 brutally honest responses.

The concept of "manliness" is both complex and flawed.
That's why every response to "What does 'Be a man' mean?" is
so vastly different.

I expected to hear: "Be tough," "Stop acting like a
baby," and "Don't show emotion." Instead, this video
showcases a deeply personal and honest collection of
introspective answers that range from proud, disappointed,
insecure, angry, optimistic, and, yes, even feminist. Here
are a few of them:

"Stupid. It's almost a sexist phrase too, like, if you're
not being 'a man' it's kinda saying you're being a woman in
a way too?"  Cole, age 17

"Sexist. It's a very accepted form of sexism. 'To be a
man' implies that you need to be something specific." 
Sillias, age 42

For others, being a man is about courage.

"Unafraid."  Solomon, age 8

"Take responsibility."  John Jr., age 18

"Someone who can be a hero to someone."  Aaron, age
24

Many saw "Be a man" as a call to action.

"Focused. 'Cause to be a man you need to be focused and
strong and have a good understanding of the world around you
so you can be a better person."  Sam, age 20

"To stand up for what you believe in."  Dan, age
34

"Trust your instincts. Be strong. Don't let people push
you around. And be kind to women." Thomas, age 50

The lessons: Gender is complicated, and so are the ways
that we talk about it. Being a man doesn't mean one thing.
It's up to every individual to define it for themselves.

Did watching this video expose any of your own prejudices
about manhood? It did for me! And that's not easy to admit.
Without realizing it, I projected my own ideas of how the
men would respond before I even hit play. As we grow in our
understanding of gender and identity, we should think just
as deeply about how the phrases we use and hear every day
might mean different things to different people. It's a
lesson I'm going to remember.Source: www.upworthy.com/45-honest-heartbreaking-and-heartwarming-responses-to-be-a-man?c=click

The New Macho: One Vision Of What
Mature Masculinity Looks Like In The 21st Century

He cleans up after himself. He cleans up our planet. He is a
role model for young men. He is rigorously honest and
fiercely optimistic.

He knows what he feels. He knows how to cry and he lets
it go. He knows how to rage without hurting others. He knows
how to fear and keep moving. He knows joy, and shares
gratitude. He seeks self-mastery.

He has let go of childish shame. He feels guilty when
hes done something wrong. He is kind to men, kind to
women, kind to children. He teaches others how to be kind.
He says hes sorry.

He stopped blaming women or his parents or men for his
pain. He stopped letting his defenses ruin his
relationships. He stopped letting his libido run his life.
He has enough self-respect to tell the truth. He creates
intimacy and trust with his actions. He has men who he
trusts and turns to for support. He knows how to make it
happen. He knows how to roll with it. He is disciplined when
he needs to be. He is flexible when he needs to be. He knows
how to listen from the core of his being.

He confronts his limitations. Hes not afraid to get
dirty. He has high expectations for himself and those he
connects with. When he makes mistakes, as all men do, he
holds himself accountable. When he falls, he gets back up.
He practices compassion, for himself and others.

He knows he is an individual. He knows we are all one. He
knows he is an animal and part of nature. He knows his
spirit and a connection to something greater. He looks for
ways to serve others.

He knows future generations are watching his actions. He
builds communities where all people are respected and
valued. He takes responsibility for himself and is willing
to be his brothers keeper.

He knows his higher purpose. He loves with fierceness. He
laughs with abandon, because he gets the joke.

We can't vouch for the validity of the following. It came
over the Internet. It does give one something to think
about! Print it out and have a discussion with someone about
it this weekend. It is followed by some followup research
and a web site on the subject.

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who
signed the Declaration of Independence? Five signers were
captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before
they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two
lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another
had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from
wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War. They signed
and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their
sacred honor.

What kind of men were they? Twenty-four were lawyers and
jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large
plantation owners; men of means, well educated. But they
signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well
that the penalty would be death if they were captured.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader,
saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He
sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in
rags. Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he
was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served
in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in
hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was
his reward. Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of
Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge,
and Middleton. At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson Jr,
noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the
Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General
George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and
Nelson died bankrupt. Francis Lewis had his home and
properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she
died within a few months. John Hart was driven from his
wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for
their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to
waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves,
returning home to find his wife dead and his children
vanished. A few weeks later he died from exhaustion and a
broken heart. Norris and Livingston suffered similar
fates.

Such were the stories and sacrifices of the American
Revolution. These were not wild-eyed, rabble-rousing
ruffians. They were soft-spoken men of means and education.
They had security, but they valued liberty more. Standing
tall, straight, and unwavering, they pledged: "For the
support of this declaration, with firm reliance on the
protection of the divine providence, we mutually pledge to
each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."
They gave you and me a free and independent America. The
history books never told you a lot about what happened in
the Revolutionary War. We didn't fight just the British. We
were British subjects at that time and we fought our own
government! Some of us take these liberties so much for
granted, but we shouldn't. So, take a few minutes while
enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these
patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid.
Remember: freedom is never free! Pass it on. It's time we
get the word out that patriotism is NOT a sin, and the
Fourth of July has more to it than beer, picnics, and
baseball games. Colonel (Dr) Jim Hayes, USAF ret

Additional Information
There is an interesting analysis of the above at www.ctssar.org/articles/price_paid.htm
for what it's worth. Who knows if it is truth or fiction,
either, since I haven't personally checked out the books the
various sources reference.

On their web site, scroll down on the page, past the
original "What happened to the 56" item to find an analysis
by E. Brooke Harlowe who claims there is a "A grain of truth
in everything, but some broad wording that makes for a good
story but an inaccurate portrayal of our founders." I don't
think this in any way diminishes the bravery of these 56
men.

Excerpt: NO SIGNER WAS KILLED OUTRIGHT BY THE
BRITISH.

Let's examine some of the statements more closely. "Five
signers were captured by the British as traitors and
tortured before they died." This passage, to me at least,
implies that the signer were captured under charges of
treason and died under torture.

Five signers were indeed captured by the British, but not
necessarily as traitors. Richard Stockton (NJ) was the only
one who was probably captured and imprisoned just for having
signed the Declaration of Independence.

Ferris and Morris also note that he was not well treated
in captivity and was in ill health when released. He never
completely recovered. He did not die in prison, however.

George Walton (GA) commanded militia at the Battle of
Savannah in December, 1778. He was wounded and captured at
that time. Thus he would have been considered a prisoner of
war, not a traitor. He was released within a year, which
implies that his signature on the Declaration was not as
important a factor in his captivity as his active military
role in defending Savannah (prisoners of war were exchanged
on a regular basis, a traitor would have been hanged).
Walton lived to serve as Governor of Georgia and U.S.
Senator, dying in 1804.

Thomas Heyward, Jr., Arthur Middleton, and Edward
Rutledge (SC) were all captured at the Siege of Charleston
in 1780. They were held at St. Augustine (then under British
control) until September 1781 with other Continentals.

Two months after his release, Arthur Middleton returned
to Philadelphia to resume his seat in the Continental
Congress. Despite the destruction of his estate, he was able
to rebuild it and live there until his death in 1787.

Edward Rutledge sat in the State Legislature from 1782 to
1798. He was elected Governor of South Carolina but died
before completing his term...in 1800. Ferris and Morris
report that he died a very wealthy man.

Thomas Heyward, Jr. served as a circuit court judge from
1782 to 1787. He served as a state legislator at the same
time. Heyward lived well into the 19th century, dying in
1809.

I checked about 8 general histories of the American War
for Independence and one or two specialized works on the
southern campaigns. None of them even mentioned that signers
had been captured at Charleston or Savannah, let alone
mention that any were singled out for harsh treatment. This
seems to indicate that their capture was part of the
"normal" course of war, not a special effort.

After the British took Charleston, Gen. Sir Henry Clinton
had men of military age left in the city rounded up. Most
were released soon after, including most of the militia
troops. He had originally allowed the officers to keep their
swords, but changed his mind when they began to shout rebel
slogans. Only the Continental troops were held for any
length of time (Middlekauff, The Glorious Revolution)

I found only one reference to the treatment of prisoners
from the southern campaigns, in Lynn Montross, "Rag, Tag,
and Bobtail". This work states that the continental troops
from the siege of Charleston were held on prison ships.
Conditions were poor and about a third of the prisoners
died.

If one takes the word "torture" to mean pain and
suffering, then I suppose these men were tortured. To my
mind, however, torture implies an intentional infliction on
pain, usually either to extract information or to punish. I
have found no evidence of the latter.

Here is an interesting passage from Larry G. Bowman,
North Texas St. Univ., on Prisoners of war: "Prisoners of
war did suffer during the American Revolution. No other
conclusion can be reached regarding the welfare of captives
on both sides. Men were beaten, deprived of food by corrupt
officials, denied bedding and clothing, and harassed in
other ways but, fortunately, such incidents of outright
cruelty were not routine events. Actually, most of the
suffering of the men came from the more subtle torment
usually brought on by neglect on the part of their captors.
Neither the American nor the British authorities sought to
induce suffering among the men in their prisons, yet men did
want for basic services. The shortcomings on both sides of
the conflict in providing for the captives was evident, but
the motivations behind the failures were not evil or
vindictive in their origination. Neither party entered a
program of deliberately tormenting prisoners." Encyclopedia
of the American Revolution, v. II, p. 1334 (New York:
Garland Publishing, 1993).

So, when Hildreth writes, "But they signed the
Declaration of Independence, knowing full well that the
penalty would be death if they were captured."

The British undoubtedly put a price on the heads of rebel
political officials (not just signers) and the signers no
doubt feared that the British would make good on the threat.
The reality is, however, that none were executed for their
treason.

Let's look at another assertion....Nine of the fifty-six
fought and died from wounds or the hardship of the
Revolutionary War. On my list two were wounded in action,
but NONE DIED OF WOUNDS. (Homepage).

What Makes Up a Real
Man?

It seems that the general image of "A real man", since the
time Cain floored Abel, is the one who is easy to spot - he
is the last one standing.

April 15th (1912) was the anniversary of the sinking of
the Titanic and I thought today's message was most
appropriate as an example of the image of A Real Man that my
grandfather, father and I grew up with.

"I am willing to remain and play the mans game if
there are not enough boats for more than the women and
children . Tell my wife I played the game straight out
and to the end. No woman shall be left aboard this ship
because Ben Guggenheim is a coward." - Final words of
Benjamin Guggenheim, millionaire traveler aboard the
ill-fated Titanic. As the boat began to sink, Guggenheim
changed into formal dress and calmly faced death.

A very different view came from a description I read back
in the late '70s. It is what I like to think makes "A real
man" today. And, personally, I have worked since that time
at becoming this man. I've only changed the deity to one
that works for me. Use one or don't. What ever works for
you. This was written by Star Hawk from the book The
Spiral Dance.

"If man had been created in Spirit's image,
He would be free to be wild without being cruel,
Angry without being violent,
Sexual without being coercive,
Spiritual without being unsexed,
And able to truly love."

I'd recommend reading it again and be with it for a
moment.

In my estimation, there isn't anything in any of the
3,500 books that we have in our men's library, represented
elsewhere on this site, whether it's from psychology or
sociology or theology or mythology or any other words or
images that I've seen that comes close to this image of "A
real man". Granted, a rather fictional character, but most
of us have been living out a fictional character all of our
lives that doesn't hold near the power of this one. Star
Hawk's words not only allow but encourage my anger and
wildness and sexuality and spirituality to live naturally
and vibrantly without any negative impact from any other
part of me.

My statement on our homepage is my take on the extent of
what "A real man" can hold in his grasp. Here's how I see "A
real man": "Man's inherent nature is to be curious, gentle,
intimate, responsible, enthusiastic, sensual, tolerant,
courageous, honest, vulnerable, affectionate, proud,
spiritual, committed, wild, nurturing, peaceful, helpful,
intense, compassionate, happy and to fully and safely
express all emotions. When will we stop training him to be
otherwise?"

What is a man? That should be a simple questoin, but
many young men today don'tknow the answer. Listen to the
poem one young man penned for Ralph Lewis in an article in
the Jan/Feb, 1999 issue of New
Man.

What is a man?
Is he someone who is strong and tall,
Or is taut and talented as he plays ball?
Is he someone who is hardened and rough,
Who smokes and drinks and swears enough?
Is he someone who chases women hard,
With a quest to conquer, but never dropping his guard?
Is he someone with a good business mind,
Who gets ahead of the others with his nose to the grind?
Or is he someone who tries his best,
Not really caring about any of the rest?
What is a man? Does anyone know?
TELL ME!
Who is the prototype? To whom shall I go?

So, Robert Lewis decided to lay out his Four Marks of a
Real Man: His masculinity is based on faith, not flesh.
In short they are:

Contributed by Lou Owen "I do not know the source. I came
upon it years ago. I first saw it under the name "The good
man project."

Relationship
Men teach and learn from others. Men coach and encourage.
Men compliment. Men are peacemakers and negotiators. Men
mediate, arbitrate and facilitate. Men comfort and nurture.
Men enjoy solitude and companionship. Men are good friends.
Men can keep a confidence. Men are faithful, sincere and
decent. Men take pride in their achievements. Men try to
make their community safe. Men are philanthropic and
generous. Men are helpful, kind and thoughtful. Men are
compassionate and sympathetic. Men cheer people up when they
are down. Men are tender and gentle. Men are loving
Men debate and discuss. Men like fair play. Men like joking
with others. Men entertain others. Men protect and rescue
others from harm. Men sacrifice themselves for their family.
Men sacrifice their lives for the greater good. Men
co-operate. Men are good parents. Men lead others. Men are
patient. Men are honorable. Men are honest. Men create laws
to protect others. Men are tolerant and accepting of others.
Men are good listeners. Men counsel. Men work together in a
crisis. Men respect themselves and others. Men value all
life and appreciate nature

Action
Men are decisive. Men get things done. Men are practical.
Men are organizers. Men transform. Men like to fix things.
Men motivate and inspire

Expression
Men are exuberant. Men are free-spirited and playful. Men
are charismatic. Men like to celebrate. Men are spiritual.
Men have deep feelings. Men are open and expressive. Men
communicate directly. Men are witty. Men move people with
their words. Men are passionate. Men enjoy sex. Men are
artistic. Men create and build

Thought
Men question and seek knowledge. Men search for meaning in
their lives. Men are resourceful, adaptable and flexible.
Men try to create order in a chaotic world. Men are wise and
understanding. Men like to know how things work. Men invent
and innovate. Men like intellectual games and rules. Men
hypothesize and solve problems. Men are analytical and
strategic. Men are philosophical. Men are planners and
forward thinkers. Men reason logically. Men are smart. Men
keep things in perspective. Men hope for a better world

Strength
Men are responsible. Men provide security and stability. Men
are self-reliant and independent. Men can endure great pain.
Men can restrain themselves. Men are calm in a catastrophe.
Men are resilient. Men are dependable and trustworthy. Men
are courageous and heroic, Men stand up for what they
believe. Men are solid, stoical and firm. Men fight for a
good cause. Men are disciplined. Men admit to their
mistakes. Men work with danger, dirt and discomfort. Men
have stamina, drive and determination. Men focus and
concentrate. Men are hard workers. Men use their power for
the good of others.

Physicality
Men are physically co-ordinated and agile. Men explore and
discover. Men enjoy physical activity and games. Men like
clowning around and having fun. Men take risks. Men like to
hone their skills in competition. Men are physically
strong

A Real Man Is...

This is a list of input on the attributes of a real
man...

Doesn't allow his son to be circumcised - at all
costs.

A man who gives back to his community

Being tall, in height, intellengent, good looking
helps

Which of the following makes a
president most manly?

Speaks softly and carries a big stick

A thorough grasp of big issues

Ability to act as moral example to country

Ability to stare down commies and terrorists without
blinking

Has a 'way' with the ladies

I refuse to answer because of your obvious liberal
bias

I refuse to answer because of your obvious
conservative bias

Who is the most manly presidential candidate?

Pat Buchanan

George W. Bush

Al Gore

Ralph Nader

Other

Source: 10/18/00 AOL pole. Results are
unknown to us.

Rich Beem - A Real Man!

If Rich Beem's first child arrives on time, the defending
champion won't play in the PGA Championship. "There
will be no decision-making," Beem said at Oak Hill
Country Club near Rochester, N.Y., where the PGA is
August 11-17. Beem said the due date is August 16. If the
child is not born by then, Beem said he will wear a pager,
and if his wife, Sara, goes into labor, he will join her.
Beem's not only a real real man but has all the makings of a
pretty great dad, too.

"A
Master's Degree in . . . Masculinity?"Masters degree in masculinityIn an August 8, 2015,
article in the New York Times "Fashion and Style"
section, Jessica Bennett describes the work of Dr. Michael
Kimmel and his Center for the Study of Men and Masculinities
at Stony Brook University, part of the State University of
New York system, which will soon start the first
masters degree program in "masculinities studies."

Okay, the whole setup is off-putting: Yet another woman
writing - re fashion and style - about men; a grand pause in
the title (the ellipsis dots); a question mark at the end of
the article's title; and in the text of the article, the
term masculinities studies presented in quotation marks. (In
the publishing biz we call them "scare quotes." In speech,
they're often shown as "air quotes." They mean, "let's not
take this too seriously, folks.") Oh, and then there's the
graphic, with Mister
Rogers
and his King Friday puppet mashed up with a beer-swilling,
cigar-smoking lout in a wife-beater shirt.

But wait a sec. Once you get past the crap (anyway, the
picture and title were probably the work of editors and not
Ms. Bennett), the article amounts to a serious overview of
Kimmel's work in establishing a master's degree program in
"masculinities studies" (those quotes again, in the
article). But then (from the article):

No, Dr. Kimmel joked, the department title doesnt
just roll off the tongue. But it's called "masculinities"
(plural) to acknowledge that there is "more than one way to
be a man."

And he would know. For nearly 40 years, long before
anybody was particularly keen to listen, Dr. Kimmel has been
touting understanding men and boys. "In the beginning," he
said, "people sort of looked at me cross-eyed and said
'Huh?' "

And the article continues in a serious vein, replete with
information about men's programs and conferences, and links
to other pioneering work in universities and men's studies
centers.

It's a long article, but well worth reading through. If
you don't have time or inclination, just check out a couple
of the links in the article:

Killer JobsThe Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has come out with
the latest (2014) statistics on the 15 most dangerous jobs.
The Forbes website summarizes the data, including an
annotated photo gallery. (Editor's
note: Not included are active-duty military, especially in
theaters of command in the world.)

And in a stunning turn-around, the jobs are held mostly
by women!

Just kidding.

It's good to remember that everyone - even us men in less
hazardous jobs - owes a debt of gratitude to those (mostly)
men who are putting their lives on the line to feed us,
house us, transport us, clean up after us, and install power
lines.

The 15 Deadliest Jobs In America

While workplace hazard coverage often details the dangers
of sitting at a computer for hours each day, none of the
most dangerous jobs in America take place inside an
office.

Thousands of workers across the U.S. die from injuries
inflicted on the job each year. According to the Bureau of
Labor Statistics (BLS) National Census of Fatal Occupational
Injuries, 4,679 workers died of fatal work injuries in 2014,
a rate of 3.3 workers per 100,000 full-time employees.

The data, released earlier this month, offers a
preliminary look at workplace fatalities last year. Final
data is expected to be published in the spring of 2016. In
previous years, finalized statistics have demonstrated
slightly higher rates, averaging an increase of 173
instances each year, ranging from 84 to 245.

The job with the highest fatality rate in 2014? Loggers,
yet again. These workers, who harvest and transport timber
for processing, often work in dangerous conditions and
exposed to the elements, and usually earn annual wages in
the mid-$30,000 range. This is the third year loggers, with
a fatality rate of 109.5 workers per 100,000 full-time
equivalent employees, have topped this list.

Fishers also maintain their rank for the third year
running, coming in as the job with the second highest
fatality rate. Fishermen and women, who, according to the
BLS catch and trap various types of marine life
to be used as food, feed, and bait, lost their lives at a
rate of 80.8 workers per 100,000 full-time employees, in a
job that tends to pay in the mid-$30,000 to low-$40,000
range.

Aircraft pilots and flight engineers come in fifth, with
a fatality rate of 63.2 deaths per 100,000 full-time
employees. Though this remains one of the occupations with
the highest fatality rate year after year, nearly 76,000
Americans currently count themselves among this field, which
pays a mean annual wage of $131,760.

The greatest number of workplace fatalities in 2014 were
caused by transportation accidents, which account for 40% of
work-related deaths. Deaths due to workplace violence
decreased slightly; workplace homicide numbers remained
steady while there was a dip in workplace suicides since
2013. Female workplace homicide victims were most likely to
be attacked by a relative or partner, while workplace
homicides involving male victims were usually related to
robberies. Fatal falls, slips, and trips,
meanwhile, were up about 10%.

Fatalities among protective service occupations dropped
15% last year, to 211, due largely to a hefty decline in
fatalities among firefighter and first-line supervisors of
fire fighting and prevention workers, which dropped 51%.
Despite overall good news within this group of occupations,
fatalities among police officers and first-line supervisors
of police and detectives increased
significantly17%to 103 in 2014.

Deaths among workers aged 55 and older increased 9% in
2014, totaling 1,621 which, the summary notes, is the
highest annual total since the inception of the fatality
census in 1992.

Foreign-born workers accounted for 827 workplace
fatalities in 2014. The greatest percentage of these
workers, roughly 40, hailed from Mexico, though the group
included individuals from 80 countries.

BLS definition: Roofers repair and install the roofs of
buildings using a variety of materials, including shingles,
asphalt, and metal. 2014 fatalities: 46.2

No. 5 Aircraft Pilots and Flight Engineers

BLS definition: Pilot and navigate the flight of
fixed-wing, multi-engine aircraft, usually on scheduled air
carrier routes, for the transport of passengers and cargo.
Requires Federal Air Transport certificate and rating for
specific aircraft type used. Includes regional, National,
and international airline pilots and flight instructors of
airline pilots. 2014 fatalities: 63.2

BLS definition: Structural iron and steel workers install
iron or steel beams, girders, and columns to form buildings,
bridges, and other structures. They are commonly referred to
as ironworkers. 2014 fatalities: 25.2

BLS Definition: Delivery truck drivers and driver/sales
workers pick up, transport, and drop off packages and small
shipments within a local region or urban area. They drive
trucks with a gross vehicle weight (GVW)the combined
weight of the vehicle, passengers, and cargoof 26,000
pounds or less. Most of the time, delivery truck drivers
transport merchandise from a distribution center to
businesses and households. 2014 fatalities: 23.4

No. 11 Electrical Power-Line Installers and
Repairers

BLS definition: Line installers and repairers (also known
as line workers) install or repair electrical power systems
and telecommunications cables, including fiber optics. 2014
fatalities: 19.2

No. 12 Miscellaneous Agricultural Workers

BLS definition: This broad occupation includes the
following four detailedoccupations: Agricultural Equipment
Operators; Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop,Nursery, and
Greenhouse; Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural
Animals; AgriculturalWorkers, All Other 2014 fatalities:
18.2

BLS definition: Taxi drivers and chauffeurs drive people
to and from the places they need to go, such as airports,
homes, shopping centers, and workplaces. They must know
their way around a city in order to take both residents and
visitors to their destinations. 2014 fatalities: 17.2

Notes from Philip Zimbardo's
TED TalkBoys 30% more likely to drop out of school.

girls outperformed guys at every level from elementary
school through graduate school,

Boys less likely to get BSAs (44% to 56%) and graduate
degrees (45% to 55%)

Make up 2/3 of special ed students

5 times more likely to have ADHD and therefore we drug
them with Ratline

A new fear of intimacy. Physical, emotional, connection
with someone else. Especially someone with the other sex who
gives off ambiguous, contradictory, signals.

They don't know the language of face contact. Verbal
nonverbal set of rules that enable you to talk to somebody
else and listen to somebody else.

Guys prefer male bonding rather than female mating.
starting in early childhood.

Physical company and cordial arousal we're looking at.
Guys have been with guys in teams, and clubs, gangs,
fraternities, the military, then in bars. It peaks on Super
bowl Sunday when guys would rather be in a bar with
strangers watching a totally overdressed Aaron Rogers of the
Green Bay Packers rather than Jennifer Lopez totally naked
in the bedroom.

The problem is that they now prefer a synchronistic
Internet world to the spontaneous interactions in social
relationships.

What are the causes? It's an unintended consequence of
excessive Internet use and excessive video gaming/'porning'
as arousal addictions; they are becoming more addictive,
with more variety, competition and higher video quality.
Arousal addition. Drug addiction you simply want more of the
same, arousal addiction you want different.

Jane McGonigal: by 21 boys spend 10,00 hours gaming,
most of that time in isolation.

Cindy Gallop said guys don't know the difference from
making love and doing porn.

Average boy watches 50 porn clips a week. For every 400
movies made in Hollywood, there are 11,000 porn movies
made.

It's a new kind of arousal. Boys brains are being
digitally rewired inn a totally new way for change, novelty,
excitement, and constant arousal. That means they are
totally out of sinc with traditional classes which are
analogue, static, ______ passive, and totally out of sinc in
romantic relationships which build gradually and subtly

So what the solution? It's not my job. I'm here to
alarm. It's your job to ______. But who should
care? Parents of boys and girls, educators, gamers, and
film makers. And women who'd like a man who they can talk
to, who can dance, who can make love slowly, and contribute
to the evolutionary pressures that can keep our species
above banana slugs. No offense to banana slugs.Source: www.ted.com/talks/zimchallenge

* * *

A woman simply is, but a man must
become. Masculinity is risky and elusive. It is achieved by
a revolt from woman, and it is confirmed only by other men.
Manhood coerced into sensitivity is no manhood at all. --
Camille Paglia

In things pertaining to enthusiasm, no man is sane who
does not know how to be insane on proper occasions. -- Henry
Ward Beecher 1813-1887

Real heroes are men who fall and fail and are flawed, but
win out in the end because they've stayed true to their
ideals and beliefs and commitments. -- Kevin Costner

There is nothing noble in being superior to some other
man. The true nobility is in being superior to your previous
self. -- Hindu proverb

I once climbed an imaginary mountain because it wasn't
there.

"I see the world where a dummy like me can broadcast loud
and clear my dumminess by spending a small forture to wear
someone else's name to achieve my identity."

Macho does not prove mucho. Zsa Zsa Gabor

By the time a man is thirty-five he knows that the images
of the right man, the tough man, the true man which he
received in high school do not work in life. - Robert
Bly